Do Violent Video Games Increase Aggression?

There are several age-appropriate video games thatplaying video games showed that junior and high
provide hours of fun while at the same time providingschool students who reported played more violent
practice in logic and strategizing as well as problemvideo games tended to display more aggressive
solving. However the growth and rising popularity ofbehaviors and were generally more violent. The
video games has been riddled with controversy asamount of time that they spent playing video games
younger and younger children get exposed to thehad a direct impact on their academic grades in
subset of video games that feature antisocialcollege. Those who spent long hours playing video
behavior, violence and gore. There is rising concern ongames almost always had lower grades. Not only did
the effects of violent video games on children. Theviolent video games provide a conducive environment
increasingly realistic nature of these games makesfor learning aggressive solutions to conflict situations,
them extremely popular among children of all ages,they also offered ample opportunity to practice and
but it is this very same realistic nature that is thehone this particular trait. Playing violent video games
cause of great anxiety. Apprehension about violentfor a short period augmented aggression by priming
video games is based on the assumption that theyaggressive thoughts. Long-term playing had longer
promote violence and aggression amongst younglasting effects as long-term players were inclined to
players. Extensive research has proven beyond alearn and rehearse new scripts related to violence.
doubt that television violence increases aggressionThe active learning environment of violent video
and violence among the children who watch it.games makes them potentially more damaging than
Concern regarding violent games was originally basedexposure to violent television and movies. Social
on these studies. However later studies show thatscientists hypothesize that there are four main
violent video games may be more damaging thanreasons why video games have such a profound
violent television primarily because of the interactiveimpact on children. Children are more likely to mimic
nature of video games. Studies show that playingthe behavior of any individual or character that they
violent video games tend to foster aggressiveidentify with. Most violent video games require the
behavior, thoughts and feelings in young people inplayer to take the point of view of and enact the
laboratory settings as well as in actual life. Moreover,role of the perpetrator. As opposed to passive
violent games are riveting and extremely interactive.observation; the active participation that is required in
They compel the player to identify with theviolent video games fosters aggression as second
aggressor, making them more vulnerable to thenature. The repetitive nature of the interaction, which
aggression-enhancing effects exposure to violentprovides ample opportunity for learning violent ways
games. It is not only the habitual players that areof thinking and acting. Violent games are in effect a
affected; even those who are briefly exposed torehearsal for violent behavior and actions in real life.
violent video games are inclined to display aggressiveExposure to violent video games increases
behavior, even if the increased aggression was onlyaggressive thoughts and emotions as well as
temporary. Extensive studies on the cause-effect ofaggressive actions.